Appetizer vs. Dessert

[Elfstar]

I wonder how many people besides me would like to see the dining plan changed to allow us dessert OR an appetizer ? Occasionally I like something sweet but most of the time, I'd much rather have a side salad or something savory with a meal. The children's menus are becoming somewhat healthier - how about giving us adults the same advantage!

 

[Elfstar]

Ignore this post - thanks!

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I agree. We're considering the dining plan for our upcoming trip, but the no appetizer may be a problem for us. My son is 2, and we're figuring between 2 adult meals and an appetizer, he would be full. But if we have to buy an appetizer at each meal, then the dining plan probably isn't worth it. The dessert would be OK, but he's a diabetic, so we try not to order dessert so that we don't have to deal with him really wanting something he can't have.

 

[mitsybella]

I agree. We're considering the dining plan for our upcoming trip, but the no appetizer may be a problem for us. My son is 2, and we're figuring between 2 adult meals and an appetizer, he would be full. But if we have to buy an appetizer at each meal, then the dining plan probably isn't worth it. The dessert would be OK, but he's a diabetic, so we try not to order dessert so that we don't have to deal with him really wanting something he can't have.

Last year our son was only 2 and we did not have to pay for his meals, most of the places we went had something eg: CRT had butter noodles and if it was a buffet he just ate for free, you may just have to mention your son is diabetic to get better/lower carb options.

 

[TDC Nala]

Most everybody wants appetizer OR dessert on the basic plan - but it probably isn't going to happen.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I hate misspelling things - can a mod please add an S in my title? Thanks!

If you go to your 1st post, click on edit, then click on advanced edit. You can add the "S" then. A mod might not see your request.

While I like appetizers, I love desserts. I especially love fancy desserts that I don't have the time or inclination to make. I don't eat desserts all that often, but when I'm at Disney I throw caution to the wind.

 

[Tricia1972]

Got the title fixed for you

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'm impressed! That was fast!!

 

[Elfstar]

Oceanannie and Tricia1972, thank you both!

 

[katindis]

I would be willing to trade two desserts for one appetizer. Or a CS for an appi ... I know my family is going to pay a fortune OOP for appies!

 

[Tricia1972]

Oceanannie and Tricia1972, thank you both!

Oceanannie taught you to fish and I went fishing for you.

(Teach a (wo)man to fish....)

 

[Elfstar]

You are too funny!

 

[OceanAnnie]

Oceanannie and Tricia1972, thank you both!

You're welcome!

I gotta say, this is one nice board! Nice posters and nice fast responding mod.
I'll have to check this place out more often!

We had the dining plan in 2007. It was a lot of food!!! And I loved every full minute of it. We opted not to get the dining plan the following trip because I went overboard with the ADRs that last time.

 

[SPOERLX3]

I agree 100%. I LOVE desert but my DH and DD do not eat sweets so the DP is not as beneficial for us as it used to be. This year we are going in August with FD so it won't be as bad to leave without getting desert for them.

I would love it if they would allow appetizer or desert or maybe something like:

2 people=1 appetizer, 2 entree's and 1 desert

I know they would have to figure something if the party was an odd number but it sure would be nice if we had a choice.

 

[RMulieri]

It would be nice...but it is not going to happen...giving people the choice would slow down table turnover time considerably( you would have one person order an appy, another a dessert= longer lingering at table).Disney dining adrs are already difficult to get.If you slow down the turnover time, the available time slots for diners decreases.Not to mention appys cost MORE than desserts.

 

[Cupmom]

Disney wont change it...and here is why.

You walk into a restaurant on the dining plan, starving...The appitizers look so good you decide to get one. Hey it's only $8. So you get it and then your entree. You eat until you are stuffed and then it is dessert time. You are too full but it on the plan so you find the room.

If the app. is included instead of dessert...this is what happens

You order you app and entree and are full. "No,thanks,no dessert for me. I'm stuffed" In the back of your mind you are thinking I"ll get something with my snack credit later.

Disney just lost money and Mickey doesn't like that.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'd be happier even if it were only appetizer and not dessert.

Bobbi

 

[sohappy]

I think that more people would order the appies and lots of people pass on dessert. So it would be in Disneys best interest not to do it. Plus, most appetizers are more expensive than dessert.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would love it if they would allow appetizer or desert or maybe something like:

2 people=1 appetizer, 2 entree's and 1 desert

I know they would have to figure something if the party was an odd number but it sure would be nice if we had a choice.

Ah, but either would discriminate against solo diners... and there are more of us than you think

 

[TDC Nala]

The reason it's not permitted is that when the dining plan changed in 2008, Disney wanted for whatever reason to cut a course off the basic plan. One reason was certainly cost - cutting, but the other was faster turnover of tables. Of all dining plan guests, the vast majority are on the basic plan.

Allowing either appetizer or dessert would not assist with either cost-cutting or table turnover. Desserts are less expensive to prepare and serve than appetizers - so if they wanted to cut a course and offer that course to deluxe diners (who pay more), it make sense that course would be the appetizer. If they allowed basic diners to choose individually, half the party would order appetizers and the other half dessert - and they'd share. Disney would gain no turnover time from the elimination of a course if they didn't eliminate that course entirely.

Even with the basic plan the way it is now, it's enormously popular and is not in Disney's interest to change it. Those who really want the appetizers upgrade to the deluxe plan - and pay more.

The only way it would work would be to have a rule that says all persons in each dining plan party could order either appetizers or desserts - and a rule like that would prove unworkable. I would not want to buy a dining plan for my mother and myself and have to agree each time we went to a restaurant whether we both wanted appetizers or desserts with that particular meal. How much more difficult would that be with a large party?